Residential vs Absorbtion Refers (Pros and Cons)

[sgreene_1963]

I've been evaluating the possibility of changing to a residential style refer when I get a new RV at some point. I've been trying to research the pros and cons of having a residential refer in a 5th wheel that is used 4-6 times a year (seasonal).

One of my biggest concerns is that I've read the residential style are more prone to damage due to the movement being inside an RV as it travels from location to location. This makes sense to me but how big an issue is it in the real world.

If others have had experience with residential style refers in an RV I'd like to hear your thoughts on the topic.

Thanks!!

[austinjenna]

For me, my problem would be that in my current configuration I have 1 12v deep cycle and a 100w solar panel to keep it topped off while in the storage yard. I go the night before we leave and fire up the fridge so its cold by the time we leave the next day. I dont think I could do that with a rez fridge or I would need to get more batteries, inverter etc... to be able to get it cold the night before.

Now I have been told 'they get cold in 2 hours' I just bought a new fridge last week for my house and it took longer than 2 hours to get up to temps.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Arcamper wrote:
Our 16 Montana has the big Norcold 18 cu ft rv fridge and so far it has done very well on 2 round trips to Myrtle Beach at 40 hours each. I do think it uses a lot of energy and propane while going down the road. There are 2 fans inside the unit and at least 2 outside for the cooling fins. The burner sounds like a jet engine but I don't know how big the flame is. When running off the battery and not connected to the truck I don't know if it would last long or kill the battery quick. We do not boon dock so on a/c it does fine and DW loves the space it has. Bottom line is if it ever goes out I would look at a residential unit because this thing is $4k to replace and that will buy several nice residential units.

The OP started this thread March 10th, 2016.
It ran it's course -of pros and cons- five days later (no new posts).
A "bump" happened when a poster deleted his own post Dec.31, 2017.

So - since the last "real" pro & con 3-15-16, two years of inactivity
is getting close.

While your info is interesting - maybe a *new* thread would be a good start for up-to-date experiences & opinions...:C

~

[Arcamper]

Our 16 Montana has the big Norcold 18 cu ft rv fridge and so far it has done very well on 2 round trips to Myrtle Beach at 40 hours each. I do think it uses a lot of energy and propane while going down the road. There are 2 fans inside the unit and at least 2 outside for the cooling fins. The burner sounds like a jet engine but I don't know how big the flame is. When running off the battery and not connected to the truck I don't know if it would last long or kill the battery quick. We do not boon dock so on a/c it does fine and DW loves the space it has. Bottom line is if it ever goes out I would look at a residential unit because this thing is $4k to replace and that will buy several nice residential units.

[jterr]

wrong forum sorry

[Jerry_B]

My Dometic has been flawless for ten years. I like the automation of the gas/electric switchover. My previous motorhome Dometic was fifteen years old, worked flawlessly.

[ddschuman]

We've had both and I love having residential fridge. I never want to go back to RV fridge. However, we never camp off the grid. We've had no trouble with residential fridge going down the road. I purchased some clear plastic refrigerator bins that I place all our food in to keep it from moving around while traveling. They were cheap and it keeps everything neat and tidy that doesn't fit in the drawers or door. With an inverter, the fridge operates while going down the road. We've never showed up at a campground with low battery. We travel sometimes 8-9 hours a day. Most of our trips however are nearby lake trips (weekends) with the 2 longer vacations a year. Never had an issue with the residential fridge.

[bigdon68]

Check out the article in this months Trailer Life.

Residential refrigerators are in all of the high end and very high end RV's -- including 5'vers and motor homes.

Enjoy the road. We do.

bigdon68

[Veebyes]

Pretty sure that if there is a next one it will be a domestic. Taking notes now of what will fit without too much surgery to get it in. Already have a more than capable inverter & enough battery bank.

The Samsung RF18 seems to be the most likely candidate, if it fits.

Current Dometic 1350 is close to opposing counter with slide in so that seems to be the limiter. Even the counter depth domestics seem to be deeper than 1350.

[pcm1959]

We had the Norcold 12 cu ft 4 door in our 2014 Lifestyle that we factory ordered. Within in the first 6 months we were disgusted with the Norcold performance that we took it out and replaced it with the 18 cu ft Samsung. It fit perfectly in the same width of the Norcold cabinet cut out. We removed the pots/pans drawer from the bottom and put the Samsung on the slide floor and moved the pots pan drawer to the top. Our installation was simple and looks completely factory.

[sgreene_1963]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. They have been very informative and will help me make a better decision on my next 5th wheel. All my travels are on relatively well maintained roads so I believe a residential style refer with an inverter sounds like the best option.

[2oldman]

Major Problem wrote:
How is there even room for a residential unit, i doubt I could even get one through the door.

They come in different sizes.

[retispcsi]

I have had both types in rv's and will never be without the residential frig again. I don't boondock but I travel a lot of miles as I am one of those full timers who does not like to stay in one place more then 2 weeks. We ride on some pretty rough roads namely the interstate system. That is a non issue the rv fridges always gave me more trouble.
I have a 2800 watt inverter/charger and 4 6 volt batteries. If I was to boondock I would add solar panels. That 20 cubic foot French door fridge sure holds a lot also.

[missourijan]

We had a Dometic 1350, a 4 door rv frig that was replaced after 3 cooling unit failures with a Samsung rf18. Both have to have the doors removed to get through the front door. The Samsung rf18 is being used a lot in rv's because of it's depth. After our installation in OK (and no inverter or extra batteries) we traveled through Needles, CA when it was 114. I had blocks of ice inside the frig that kept it at 48. It cooled quickly when we stopped. No, we don't boondock often but have a portable generator when we do. Good info from both sides on this issue, some will stick with the absorption frig, others support the residential type.

[marspec]

If you have a fiver look for cabinet depth reefers. You may have to take the reefer doors off to get it inside. There's probably some interior cabinet work required.